The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-06
TARIFF REFORM,

TARIFF REFORM.
EDrroR FREE TRADER: In my last
communication, charged that both perl
obs of protection, instead of cheapenlng,
increased the price of window glass. II
seems, indeed, like work of supererro
cation TO prove that protection increases
prices. Is there man on earth VINO Dc
lieyes that glass manufacturers demand
protection In order that they may be com
PEELED TO submit to reduction in the price
of glass, or demand protection through
fear that under free trade they would be
compelled to sell their glass for too high a
price, Not protectioHiSt in this or any
other age but denonnces cheapneSs as an
over. ,hadowing, all.coDsuming curse; and,
In nearly the same breath. there Is not one
but contends that protection cheapens pro
duction. MIR. Trimble argues that cheap
product pauperizes European labor, am
then spends much time and space In proof
that protection cheapens production. The
Hon. James G. Blaine. than whom tb-te
is no more brilliant American, declares IN
his history that Free traders have never
yet been able to answer the argument that
low prices means low wages; and then,
straight way, stumps the country, showing
how wonderfully protection cheapens pro,
duction.
A recent work entitled, Wages, Living
and Tariff" was handed me yesterday by
friend, in which, after "demohstrd
ing V p that free trade meant cheap goods,
the author declares: Free trade and high
wages in America is an impGssibilty
As we'll might we attempt to mingle
a." ligh and darkness, fire and water, or good
" and evil" and then says that Chinaman
may come here, work six years at $40 per
month, return TO China and "retire upen
his fortune, Independent for life; where
~, If an American goes t0 China, he must
work for $3.50 per month, and, In six
years, he could not save enough to pay
|
Why" AMI answers, Because of low
prices In China and high prices In Ameri
ca" and then straightway presents ex
haustive tables showing how protection
has cheapened production.
Horace Greedy, the greatest champion Of
protection In America, declared that pro
lection could he justified upon no Other
ground than the promise of ultimate
cheapness, saying that II production die
not give us cheaper goods than could b'
obtained under free trade. then protec
ton Is not only vicious mistake, but 1t i
, curse and a crime "; and 80 every pre-
tectonist defends it upon the ground O
ultimate cheapness, while yet declarin
that cheapened product must degrad
r the laborer.
Now If protection cheapens production
!, AID a cheapened production reduces III
+ wages OF labor, how can protection Civ
e cheaper goods and higher wages? And,
!. low prices are consistent with high wage
what reason to fear that free trade woul
y degrade the laborer? These contlctin
}. arguments are simply irreconcilable,
e they go to the point of proving that II pr
o lection does not cheaper product, 1t is
% curse, and a crime II II does.
II From 1924 to 1916 window glass receive
n steady protection of from 30 t. IS per bc
d of 100 feet, according to sizes. This dI
70 fered from the present duty, In that 1t wi
IL higher on the lower grades, and lower I
. the higher; yet the difference was b
Il trltling; the general average was aoo
y the same as from 1868 TO 1887. Windo
glass was about 30 per cent. higher fro
1910 to 1915 than In 1880. Mr.. Trimb
says II was 90 per cent higher under Il
tariff of 1S43 than at present. The ten
census shows glass rated at S541 per b,
10 of 100 feet In 1880. 1t is about the san
e. now. II this Is 30 per cent less than
ii lS43, then In 1913 1t must have been rat,
'e at about 1878 per box. have, as y,
been unable to obtain the price Of glass
IN 1920, previous to the first period Of prote
ID ton; but the Hon. J. ID. Weeks, reportil
Al upon the glass industry for the 10th cens'
NJ says: "ln. 1929 there were eight windc
" glass-works In Western Pennsy lvania, pr
Of ducing $1,000 boxes 600 feet Of glass p
N annum, valued At $i35,OOO," which,
70 course, was IS per box. The FIRST peril
r. of projection, therefore, raised the pri
OF glass from $5 per box In 1926 TO 30
It per box In 1S45
4 On the 3Oth Of July, l846, the duty {
/. window glass was cut down by sing
stroke TO horizontal 90 per cent dd cdlOru
d for all sizes and prices This soon reduce
Il the price Of glass: Sxl0 window glass ~